Matches, strikes, and women’s rights?

_{4 mins to read | March 17th, 2026}

If you walk down Hanbury Street in Spitalfields, you may notice this memorial in the pavement outside Hanbury Hall.

And if you look up - this blue plaque explains why it is there.

The memorial and plaque refer to a pivotal event in the history of British trade unions, and women’s rights: the London matchgirls’ strike.

But what was it all about? And who lit the flame [pardon the pun] that started the strike?

Working conditions in Victorian London’s East End

In the 1800s London’s East End was home to some of the most notorious slum areas. Rapid population growth and industrialisation had turned the once beautiful Georgian streets into overcrowded hovels of poverty, misery and vice.

Working conditions in Victorian London were appalling, particularly for unskilled workers. And they were even worse for women. As the suffragette and social activist Sylvia Pankhurst once said: “Behind every poor man is an even poorer woman”. Not only were women paid a fraction of what their male co-workers were paid, sexism and sexual abuse were rife, and they had few rights. Children had even fewer rights – child labour was common. It was not until 1878 when the employment of children under 10 was banned.

The East End was home to much of London’s industry and factories. One of the biggest employers was the huge Bryant & May match factory in Bow. The majority of the workforce were matchgirls - women and teenage girls who did various jobs in the factory.

The Matchgirls Strike

As in many factories, working conditions were awful: long hours, poor pay, and unjustified docking of wages. But the women’s work was also dangerous. The white phosphorous used could cause phossy jaw, a terrible and painful disease that affected the teeth, gums, face and could cause brain damage. Matchgirls in particular were exposed. 

Social activist and women’s rights advocate Annie Besant heard about the working conditions. She spoke to the women and, in June 1888, wrote a deliberately provocative article - 'White slavery in London' - exposing the conditions the matchgirls worked under. She hoped that by publishing the piece, Bryant & May would be forced to respond.

And they did. Management are reported as putting pressure on the women to contradict Besant’s claims and reveal the whistleblowers. When they refused, they started sacking them for insubordination.

The matchgirls' response was swift. On 5 July 1888 around 1400 walked out, causing the factory to grind to a halt. A Strike Committee was formed, mass meetings were held, marches made to Parliament, and funds raised in support of the strikers.

With the public, press, and several backbenchers behind them, within two weeks Bryant & May agreed to the matchgirls’ demands.

The strike also attracted the attention of the Home Office, and this led to an improvement in health and safety regulation of the factories.

The New Unionism movement

The 1888 matchgirls' strike was one of the first times that a union of ‘unskilled workers’ had succeeded in striking on such a large scale for better pay and conditions. It also led to the formation of the Union of Women Match Workers, with strike leader Sarah Chapman elected President of the Committee. It later became The Matchmaker’s Union, representing female and male workers. 

Through their courage and determination, the women showed that united, 'unskilled workers' did have a powerful voice, and helped others to recognise their own power to bring about change. 1889 saw more strike action, including the London dock workers’ and gas workers’ strikes. This willingness on the part of 'unskilled workers’ to take action was termed New Unionism.

 The actions of these brave women are commemorated via memorials and blue plaques in the East End.

And hopefully you’ll now think of them next time you strike a match.